Iron head of quindent form, decorated overall, both sides, in Thuluth script. The form represents the Panjatan, the five chaste personalities of Islam: the Holy Prophet, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Fatima, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain. Cylindrical socket and bolster flanked by spherical expansions, probably reforged from a gun barrel as sometimes encountered. On its red painted pole. The paint dry and flaking. 80 ¾” overall. Originally commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husain who died at the Battle of Karbala in 680, these were used in the Anglo-Sudanese War (Mahdist War) of 1885 as a religious focus and inspiration as well as to direct military activity in the field.
